Are We Making Regional
Anaesthesia Too Complicated?
PRO CON
@amit_pawa#RAUK19
The argument AGAINST the motion
Disclosures
Honororia from GE Healthcare
Consult for B Braun Medical Ltd
I have helped describe a “new” block
@amit_pawa
Friendship
@amit_pawa
This Time It’s Different
Are We Making Regional
Anaesthesia Too Complicated?
The Motion
@amit_pawa NO!
Lloyd had some
great GAGS!!
THE VERY BEST BLOCK-NAMING BOOK EVER
BLOCK
AMIT PAWA
P. A. W. A Block
Posterior
Abdominal
Wall
Analgesia
Featuring…
THE VERY BEST BLOCK-NAMING BOOK EVER
BLOCK
AMIT PAWA
P. A. W. A Block
Posterior
Abdominal
Wall
Analgesia
Featuring…
I agree with Lloyd to
a certain degree…
Stop - let’s be
serious
We have a responsibility
Make RA
Accessible
Anatomical
Nomenclature
Ensure RA is
Evidence-based
Make RA
Simple
Make RA
Safe
Ensure RA is
Taught well
Ensure Pts
receive RA
@amit_pawa
I think we are doing many,
but not all of those things…
@amit_pawa
In the old days…
@amit_pawa
Everyone had a go at RA!
It wasn’t complicated…
@amit_pawa
Draw a line from Turbitt’s tubercle to
Pawa’s protuberance.
Divide it into 3. Draw a parallel line.
Transect the middle of the second line
with half way between the lateral
thirds…. Blah blah blah
@amit_pawa
Are you telling me that
wasn’t COMPLICATED?!
Along came Ultrasound
&
Technology
@amit_pawa
Use of
USRA
Time
Smart
guys
“OMG this
is so cool”
Complications
"Now I get it”
A graph I made up inspired by @MKwesieKwofie May 2019
When I did my fellowship…
@amit_pawa
We Kept things relatively simple
Supraclavicular
Interscalene
Forearm blocks
Femoral
Popliteal Sciatic
@amit_pawa
Things have
moved on…
Spinal ultrasound
Paravertebral
Fascia Iliaca
TAP
PECS
QLB
ESP
MTP
Infraclavicular
RAPTIR
Adductor canal
Ipack
RISS
PENG
Now we can do…
@amit_pawa
Spinal ultrasound
Paravertebral
Fascia Iliaca
TAP
PECS
QLB
ESP
MTP
Infraclavicular
RAPTIR
Adductor canal
Ipack
RISS
PENG
Now we can do…
But that is NOT
complicated
I’ll show you
why…
@amit_pawa
What’s important?
Is it the Doctor?
How many blocks they can do?
@amit_pawa
Is it the Doctor?
NO!
How many blocks they can do?
Or what car they drive?
@amit_pawa
Patient
@amit_pawa
Patient
Provide
Analgesia
24/7
provision
Reliability
Low Risk
Consistent
Simple
technique
Teachable
@amit_pawa
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“Hi Dr Pawa - I have a
patient with multiple rib
fractures and impending
respiratory failure”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“Okay, Can you Site a
thoracic epidural?”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“No…they are on Warfarin”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“Err, ok - can you site an
ultrasound-guided
paravertebral?”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“No-I have never done one
and I’m too nervous to
try”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“Err, ok - can you site an
ultrasound-guided serratus
plane or an ESP?”
Imaginary Patient…
@amit_pawa
“YES I can actually
I learned those at #RAUK19
and there are some great
on-line videos”
Increased Choice
@amit_pawa
Means patients are
more likely to benefit
High Risk vs Low Risk
@amit_pawa
Need techniques with less risk…Need techniques with less risk…
ESP
@amit_pawa
ESP
MTP
@amit_pawa
ESP
MTP PVB
@amit_pawa
Ah - But we need
Evidence you say…
@amit_pawa
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Publications per year
QLB TEA TPVB Serratus	Plane Pecs ESP
TEA
TPVB
QLB
SAPB
PECS
ESP
Publications per year @amit_pawa
Lloyd would say…
@amit_pawa
“Focus on the simple
blocks and don’t make
it complicated”
We Surveyed trainees after
completing their RA training…
@amit_pawa
Block < 10 performed (%) >10 performed (%)
Supraclavicular 77 23
Infraclavicular 97 3
Axillary 54 46
Adductor canal 67 33
Femoral 19 81
Paravertebral 92 8
Serratus 97 3
TAP 27 73
BECOMING FUTURE READY - DEVISING TRAINING OUTCOMES IN REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA FOR POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES BASED ON A SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICES.
Dr. A Bapat, Dr. J. Lipton, Dr. A Pawa - RAUK 2019
We Surveyed trainees after
completing their RA training…
@amit_pawa
Block < 10 performed (%) >10 performed (%)
Supraclavicular 77 23
Infraclavicular 97 3
Axillary 54 46
Adductor canal 67 33
Femoral 19 81
Paravertebral 92 8
Serratus 97 3
TAP 27 73
We are not teaching enough
“uncomplicated” blocks
BECOMING FUTURE READY - DEVISING TRAINING OUTCOMES IN REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA FOR POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES BASED ON A SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICES.
Dr. A Bapat, Dr. J. Lipton, Dr. A Pawa - RAUK 2019
We Surveyed trainees after
completing their RA training…
@amit_pawa
Block < 10 performed (%) >10 performed (%)
Supraclavicular 77 23
Infraclavicular 97 3
Axillary 54 46
Adductor canal 67 33
Femoral 19 81
Paravertebral 92 8
Serratus 97 3
TAP 27 73
We are not teaching enough
“uncomplicated” blocks
Except for TAP BLOCK…
BECOMING FUTURE READY - DEVISING TRAINING OUTCOMES IN REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA FOR POSTGRADUATE TRAINEES BASED ON A SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICES.
Dr. A Bapat, Dr. J. Lipton, Dr. A Pawa - RAUK 2019
Lets draw this to a close…
@amit_pawa
1. Some of the “new” blocks are confusing (names)
2. We need to teach some blocks well to everyone
3. Some of the “new” blocks make RA safer
4. Some of the “new” blocks are more likely to be
performed by non-expert anaesthetists
5. The “new” blocks are increasing RA provision by
other specialties…
Improve access
In Emergency Departments around the world…
PECS blocks - Axillary Abscess drainage
RAPTIR blocks - upper limb suturing/fracture manipulation
SERRATUS ANTERIOR PLANE blocks - Rib fractures
@amit_pawa
Improve access
In Emergency Departments around the world…
PECS blocks - Axillary Abscess drainage
RAPTIR blocks - upper limb suturing/fracture manipulation
SERRATUS ANTERIOR PLANE blocks - Rib fractures
@amit_pawa
We have a responsibility
Make RA
Accessible
Anatomical
Nomenclature
Ensure RA is
Evidence-based
Make RA
Simple
Make RA
Safe
Ensure RA is
Taught well
Ensure Pts
receive RA
We have a responsibility
Make RA
Accessible
Anatomical
Nomenclature
Ensure RA is
Evidence-based
Make RA
Simple
Make RA
Safe
Ensure RA is
Taught well
Ensure Pts
receive RA
This is facilitated by some of the new blocks…
We have a responsibility
Make RA
Accessible
Anatomical
Nomenclature
Ensure RA is
Evidence-based
Make RA
Simple
Make RA
Safe
Ensure RA is
Taught well
Ensure Pts
receive RA
This is facilitated by some of the new blocks…
SO…
Are We Making Regional
Anaesthesia Too Complicated?
The Motion
@amit_pawa NO!
@amit_pawa

Pro-Con Debate - Are we making RA too complicated? Con Side